Is the Mary River croc nesting near Saltwater Creek?

THE Mary River crocodile has been seen in Saltwater Creek leading to speculation it might be looking for a place to nest.

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As the traps laden with feral pig meat in the Mary River have gone untouched recently, a local man has said it could have been because the traps were in the wrong place.

Lindsay Titmarsh thinks the croc has moved into Saltwater Creek to look for a nesting ground ahead of summer.

"The rangers have received credible information that the crocodile was seen going up Saltwater Creek," he said.

Mr Titmarsh should know, as he has been supplying the feral pigs to the rangers for the traps from his station Tandora.

He said the wet season was the nesting season for saltwater crocodiles, which could be a reason it has moved from the river to Saltwater Creek, in a search for more suitable terrain to lay eggs.

Mr Titmarsh admitted there could be another explanation, however.

"No one knows for sure where it is...it might have gone back out of the river into the Sandy Strait," he said.

Mr Titmarsh said it was possible the crocodile's normal habitat was in the Sandy Strait and it had simply moved up into the Mary River over the winter months.

The explanation that it could be looking for a nesting ground would fit with another local man's claim of a second crocodile in the Mary River.

Kevin Greenhalgh, the fisherman responsible for the original sighting in May, said last month there were two crocodiles - one dark in colour and about 12-14ft long, and the other about 9-10ft long and a khaki colour.

Upon hearing these descriptions, "croc wrangler" Matt Wright said it sounded like they might be a male and female, and told the Chronicle that breeding was a possibility.

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection did not provide a response before the time of publication.

Croc facts

Nesting occurs during the wet season between November and May with a peak in January and February

The crocodiles are mound nesters, preferring areas with tall vegetation and permanent water close by

Preferred nesting habitat for the crocodiles includes elevated isolated freshwater swamps that do not have the influence of tidal movements

A female crocodile will lay one clutch with an average of 52 eggs per season